Fermoy Women Claim Development League Title

18th April 2013 By Munster Rugby

Last week-end Fermoy Lionesses took on Abbeyfeale in the Munster Women’s Development League Final in Abbeyfeale.

Courtesy of:- Patrick Kelly

Fermoy 7 Abbeyfeale 5

It was a fiercely competitive game with the defence for both teams coming out on top. With the wind blowing hard down the field it was always going to be the old cliché of a game of two halves. Fermoy with the wind at their backs in the first half started strongly and camped for most of the first half in the Abbeyfeale half.

Although Abbeyfeale did have good relieving kicks during the half, full back from Fermoy Roberta McDonald was quick to pin the ball back into the corners to keep the pressure on. The pressure was eventually too much and Leah Lyons crashed over from close range to score under the posts. As so often this season she added the extra points. From the kick off, Fermoy moved back into the Abbeyfeale half but could not turn the pressure into points.

The second half started with Abbeyfeale regaining the ball from a lineout. From there, they applied great pressure but credit to Fermoy they held out. The Fermoy pack then started to get their rucking game going and starved the Abbeyfeale team possession for long periods of the second half. However, Abbeyfeale continued their drive to score and some slick hands from their backs lead to Marie Keating diving over for a try out wide. The conversion kick was narrowly missed which meant Fermoy kept a slender lead going into the last five minutes. Huge defence from Fermoy allowed them to hold Abbeyfeale out and when a scrum was awarded to Fermoy, and last play announced by the referee, Fermoy kicked the ball dead to secure their first league cup.

Fermoy Lionesses: Leah Lyons, Sophie Carroll, Meadhbh O’Callaghan,Breda O’Sullivan, Frances Tobin, Deirdre Purfield,Justine Fitzgerald,Patricia Carroll,Marion Beecher, Louise Buttimer, Aine Firtear,Christine Bruen, Noirin McHugh, Marion Twomey,Roberta McDonald , Laura Marcelin, Elaine Murphy, Karen Murphy, Adina Lyons, Clare Horgan, Orla Cotter, Amy Beausang ,Siobhan Clarke, Amy Quinn
Abbeyfeale; Hannah Broderick, Noelle Browne, Helena Sheehan, Mairead Mulcahy, Kit Donovan, Lisa Harnett, Mary Teahan, Maura Collins, Anna McMahon, Janet Garvey, Samantha Ahern, Marie Keating, Catriona Davis, Brigid Cahill, Siobhan Ahern, Fidelma Collins, Ann Ward.